Just booked for October - some hotel and other basic questions

[pnut]

Booked for Oct 2 - 9 at French Quarter Standard room. Included only 5 day basic park ticket, and decided after long consideration, I added the dining plus plan. Two kids 5 and 7. This will be our one big Disney trip while the kids are young, so we want to get the most out of it for them.

- Is the extra $200 worth it for the premium room? The booker with Disney said that the standard rooms are farthest from the dining building and bus stops, and we don't want to be walking.

- I don't like the 2 double beds, and would prefer to have 2 queen beds, but Coronado springs was fully booked (only moderate with queen beds). Any suggestions? Maybe ask for a cot or two for the kids?

- I know we have to book restaurants and events NOW. But I did not find character breakfasts, or princess lunches, or anything like that on Disney where to eat links.

- Since we booked through Disney and are staying on site, I know we get extended hours, what other benefits should I look for?

 

[ccgirl]

We stayed that same week a few years ago at POFQ. Great resort. The standard rooms are just fine. It is a small resort so the walk was not bad at all. I would actually spend the $200 on a rental car. The only transportation to any of the parks is by bus and I LOATHED the bus transportation. One day it took us 45 minutes to get to MK. I just didn't understand how it could take that long when we were staying in the park. I really enjoyed the food court at POFQ. Try the beignets. You can get an order of 3 and it only counts as a snack credit. The beds seemed big enough for us. PUtting a cot in the room it would be way too crowded IMHO. We asked for a ground floor room and it was wonderful so we could just wheel our stroller right into the room rather than lugging it up the stairs - I don't think there are elevators. You can take the boat to DTD and to Port Orleans Riverside. We used the pool there as well and really enjoyed it. All in all, a very nice trip. The only downside was the transportation to the parks.

Check out the menus on allears.net. It is a great resource.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Booked for Oct 2 - 9 at French Quarter Standard room. Included only 5 day basic park ticket, and decided after long consideration, I added the dining plus plan. Two kids 5 and 7. This will be our one big Disney trip while the kids are young, so we want to get the most out of it for them.

- Is the extra $200 worth it for the premium room? The booker with Disney said that the standard rooms are farthest from the dining building and bus stops, and we don't want to be walking.

- I don't like the 2 double beds, and would prefer to have 2 queen beds, but Coronado springs was fully booked (only moderate with queen beds). Any suggestions? Maybe ask for a cot or two for the kids?

- I know we have to book restaurants and events NOW. But I did not find character breakfasts, or princess lunches, or anything like that on Disney where to eat links.

- Since we booked through Disney and are staying on site, I know we get extended hours, what other benefits should I look for?

Welcome to the DIS!

One question, you are going to be in WDW October 2 - 9, but are only going to the parks for 5 days? I would think, at a minimum, you would need 6 day tickets, unless you are going off-site during your stay.

I usually tell people new to WDW, 2 days Magic Kingdom, 2 days Epcot, 1 day Animal Kingdom and 1 day Disney Hollywood Studios. Also, your dining credits are bases on the number of nights you are at your resort, so you will have 28 Table Sevice Meals, 28 Counter Service Meals and 28 Snacks per person per alotted to your family. You do need to make Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs) as soon as possible, especially if you are wanting to do character meals, as they can book up quite quickly.

I like to use www.allearsnet.com for their dining reviews and menus:
http://allears.net/din/dining.htm

The easiest way I have found to plan my park days and ADRs is by using the Crowd/Best Days Calendar at www.touringplans.com. It is the website to The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. It tells you which parks to visit on which days for the best crowds. Once I know which park we will be in on which day, I pick a Table Service Restaurant that is in the park or at a nearby resort. Since you won't have Park Hoppers, you will really need to do this, as you will not be able to hop to another park for a ADR.

Also, I wanted to mention that your check-in day is the speculated end date for free dining promo. This year's free dining dates are supposed to be announced at the end of the month and if your date's do fall under that promotion (which they should), you can call and add the free dining discount code to your existing reservation. It should save you about $700.00.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Welcome to the DIS!

One question, you are going to be in WDW October 2 - 9, but are only going to the parks for 5 days? I would think, at a minimum, you would need 6 day tickets, unless you are going off-site during your stay.

I usually tell people new to WDW, 2 days Magic Kingdom, 2 days Epcot, 1 day Animal Kingdom and 1 day Disney Hollywood Studios. Also, your dining credits are bases on the number of nights you are at your resort, so you will have 28 Table Sevice Meals, 28 Counter Service Meals and 28 Snacks per person per alotted to your family. You do need to make Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs) as soon as possible, especially if you are wanting to do character meals, as they can book up quite quickly.

I like to use www.allearsnet.com for their dining reviews and menus:
http://allears.net/din/dining.htm

The easiest way I have found to plan my park days and ADRs is by using the Crowd/Best Days Calendar at www.touringplans.com. It is the website to The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. It tells you which parks to visit on which days for the best crowds. Once I know which park we will be in on which day, I pick a Table Service Restaurant that is in the park or at a nearby resort. Since you won't have Park Hoppers, you will really need to do this, as you will not be able to hop to another park for a ADR.

Also, I wanted to mention that your check-in day is the speculated end date for free dining promo. This year's free dining dates are supposed to be announced at the end of the month and if your date's do fall under that promotion (which they should), you can call and add the free dining discount code to your existing reservation. It should save you about $700.00.

Just wanted to add that we have always loved the bus system at WDW. In fact, we drive most of the time and really never use our car while we are on property, that is definitely one of the perks for us.

 

[pnut]

...you are going to be in WDW October 2 - 9, but are only going to the parks for 5 days?

Also, I wanted to mention that your check-in day is the speculated end date for free dining promo. This year's free dining dates are supposed to be announced at the end of the month and if your date's do fall under that promotion (which they should), you can call and add the free dining discount code to your existing reservation. It should save you about $700.00.

We are planning to spend one day relaxing at the pool, and another offsite. I would rather add the extra days later than pay for them first. I was told I could upgrade to more days for the same price I would have paid up front.

Thank you for the links! That is the kind of stuff I was looking for. We definitely plan to book our restaurants in the next 2 weeks. I just went to touring plans and they want $9 to subscribe just so I can see the crowd calendar? That's quite a turnoff.

Do you have a link or code for the free dining promo for when it shows up? I did not see anything about that anywhere. Is this a yearly thing? Never heard of it.

Interesting perspectives on the busses. I have heard both side, that it is awful, and others that it is just fine. I guess I will find out.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

We are planning to spend one day relaxing at the pool, and another offsite. I would rather add the extra days later than pay for them first. I was told I could upgrade to more days for the same price I would have paid up front.

Thank you for the links! That is the kind of stuff I was looking for. We definitely plan to book our restaurants in the next 2 weeks. I just went to touring plans and they want $9 to subscribe just so I can see the crowd calendar? That's quite a turnoff.

Do you have a link or code for the free dining promo for when it shows up? I did not see anything about that anywhere. Is this a yearly thing? Never heard of it.

Interesting perspectives on the busses. I have heard both side, that it is awful, and others that it is just fine. I guess I will find out.

Yes, the free dining promo is yearly, since 2005, Disney has been offering the Free Dining promo for Magic Your way packages with a 3 night minimum and a 14 day maximum (Basic Dining Plan; 1 TS, 1 CS, 1 Snack per person per night) during the last part of August through the beginning of October, give or take a few days. As long as you check-in by the last day of the promo, you receive the discount for your entire stay. The free dining offer should be announced by the end of April. The first couple of days it will only be open to Disney Visa holders and then will open up to the general public. The speculative dates for this year's fall free dining promo are August 15 - October 2, 2010.

Here is a link to the biggest free dining thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2342665

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Yes, the free dining promo is yearly, since 2005, Disney has been offering the Free Dining promo for Magic Your way packages with a 3 night minimum and a 14 day maximum (Basic Dining Plan; 1 TS, 1 CS, 1 Snack per person per night) during the last part of August through the beginning of October, give or take a few days. As long as you check-in by the last day of the promo, you receive the discount for your entire stay. The free dining offer should be announced by the end of April. The first couple of days it will only be open to Disney Visa holders and then will open up to the general public. The speculative dates for this year's fall free dining promo are August 15 - October 2, 2010.

Here is a link to the biggest free dining thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2342665

Also wanted to mention that adding a 6th day to your hopper should only cost about $14.00 for your entire family.

 

[Metro West]

 

[Mrs D]

to the DIS!

I will be at Port Orleans French Quarter (POFQ) the same time you are! I'm there 10/1-10/5! I booked a standard room and requested building #4 - it's my Mom & I and we aren't too concerned about being close to the pool so being close to the food court and bus stops works for us! You can book a waterview room which can be the river, the pool or a fountain. Not worth the extra money for me.
Here's a great FAQ thread about POFQ. You'll get lots of useful info there.
I do believe you could request a roll away bed (for a fee) but alot of people bring a twin air mattress! And trust me, people fit twin air mattresses in a value room which is 260 square feet while POFQ is 314 sf - you can make it work! Most people stand the air bed up against a wall so it's out of the way.

You can book Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs) online here or by phone. Going online allows you to see whats available at your dates and times. Feel free to ask here or on the Restaurants forum if you'd like some suggestions.

Other benefits you receive by staying at a Disney resort are:
* Magical Express (ME) - a free shuttle service from Orlando airport to your resort (must sign up in advance). They will also handle all your checked bags - you put a yellow ME tag on your checked luggage, check it at your home airport they pick it up at the airport and bring it directly to your hotel room. I can give you more details if needed.
* On site transportation - buses to theme parks & Downtown Disney (DTD) as well as a boat from POFQ to DTD. You may also use the monorail from Magic Kingdom (MK) to Epcot or around the 3 monorail resorts (I like to plan a meal at one of those resorts - Polynesian, Contemporary or Grand Floridian - just as an excuse to take the monorail). I have only used Disney transportation and have always been pleased with it. Even with 2 little ones (14 months and 3 on 1st trip then 2 & 4 on next) and a double stroller I still think it works great! It's one less expense for me.
* Extra Magic Hours (EMH) - when I travel with my kids we only use Morning EMH. They are great for us! We make sure to arrive before the park opens (even before EMH) that way we're ready to go as soon as we're allowed in. We get SO much done in that first hour and continue to get lots done in the next hour (while others are renting their strollers, etc, etc). It is a must for MK for us! When I do adult trips (my Oct trip will be) we mix up using Morning & Evening EMH. It can be so much fun to stay late at a park. MK is magical at night!

I love the touring plans website. It is the companion to the guidebook The Unofficial Guide to WDW. A great book worth picking up. Anyhow if you subscribe to the allears.net newsletter they send weekly discount codes for touringplans.com subscription. Brings it to under $7 and I get my $7 worth. Oh, if you buy the book you get a free subscription! And you can see the next 30 days without a subscription. I use their touring itineraries for every trip and wouldn't do it any other way now!
You are going at a less busy time, but may run into some busier days. MK closes early on many days for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) and Epcot will be hosting the Food & Wine Fest.

You may add on the extra day(s) at anytime during your trip for the same price as doing it now. In my mind even a few hours at a park is worth the additional $3 per person. You didn't mention if you have park hoppers, but I feel it's overkill for first time visitors and unnecessary if you have a good touring itinerary.

You should most certainly keep your eyes & ears out for a free dining promo if/when it's offered. You will hear about it first on here on the DIS (that thread is a good place to check) but you could also check out mousesavers.com.

Feel free to come back and keep asking questions!

HTH!

 

[pnut]

Follow up:

With the kids 3-9 free offer posted on the free dining thread (I don't have enough posts to put a link here), we saved almost $600 off our stay. This is great, thank you for the replies providing the information I may not have otherwise known about.

Edit: that was on top of the $400 off we got for each of us signing up for a Disney card ($200 each when you make your first purchase)!

Yes, the free dining promo is yearly, since 2005, Disney has been offering the Free Dining promo for Magic Your way packages with a 3 night minimum and a 14 day maximum (Basic Dining Plan; 1 TS, 1 CS, 1 Snack per person per night) during the last part of August through the beginning of October, give or take a few days. As long as you check-in by the last day of the promo, you receive the discount for your entire stay. The free dining offer should be announced by the end of April. The first couple of days it will only be open to Disney Visa holders and then will open up to the general public. The speculative dates for this year's fall free dining promo are August 15 - October 2, 2010.

Here is a link to the biggest free dining thread:

(link removed since I don't have enough posts it wont allow it

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Follow up:

With the kids 3-9 free offer posted on the free dining thread (I don't have enough posts to put a link here), we saved almost $600 off our stay. This is great, thank you for the replies providing the information I may not have otherwise known about.

You're welcome! Glad you got a discount.

 

[Disn3y]

Welcome to the DIS!

 

[carmiedog]

Booked for Oct 2 - 9 at French Quarter Standard room...

- Is the extra $200 worth it for the premium room? The booker with Disney said that the standard rooms are farthest from the dining building and bus stops, and we don't want to be walking.

I'm not sure if this was pointed out yet, but there are no "premium" location-based rooms at French Quarter. However, there are "water view" rooms which cost extra. These are either pool view or river view. If you look at a map, the rooms closest to the single bus stop and food court are NOT water view and will not cost extra. You had a clueless booker. For what it's worth, French Quarter is the smallest of the moderates and it's not a long walk to any of the buildings. Personally, I the extra cost for a water view room wouldn't be worth it to me...I can't recall ever sitting in our room looking out the window!

eta: We were very happy with the bus system at POFQ.

 

[jimmalru80]

Hello and welcome to the DIS!!

 

[Mrs D]

Follow up:

With the kids 3-9 free offer posted on the free dining thread (I don't have enough posts to put a link here), we saved almost $600 off our stay. This is great, thank you for the replies providing the information I may not have otherwise known about.

Edit: that was on top of the $400 off we got for each of us signing up for a Disney card ($200 each when you make your first purchase)!

Wow! That's a great savings! And some spending $ to boot!

Don't ya just love the DIS!

 

[PrincessBetsy]

Welcome to the DIS!! Congrats on saving so much money! Good luck planning and have a magical trip!!

 

[ChaMakay1923]

Hi and welcome to the most addicting Disney site out there!!! Many have already given you helpful info about your trip, one I'd like to add is... on the main DISBoards site if you scroll to the bottom more, you'll find a link that is labeled Creative DISigns... DO look into this if you haven't already! Many people create amazing pictures that you can have personalized to make your trip even more magical!! I could name a few DISigners that I feel are the best, BUT.. I don't wanna hurt anyone's feelings. Though check EVERYONE out.. and also.. a word of advise with them.. read the VERY first post carefully... they post their rules and regulations and if they are or are not taking requests at this time. Trust me, you'll be happy you read first before requesting, lol. Good luck with your trip! Mine isn't until February 2011.


p.s. I actually posted to snag the links people gave you for guidance.. but glad I was also able to add something